Nishino, Shibata, and their crew were at a convenience store nearby the school.
“Really, aren’t you glad that there’s still some food left?”
“Yes, it honestly helps.”
Nishino nodded while drinking from a bottle of tea. Although fresh foods such as salads and lunch boxes were spoiled, canned and vacuum-packed goods could be eaten without any problem. Inside the store, his friend was sitting on the floor and eating nonstop.
Although the food wouldn’t run away even if they aren’t consumed, it was understandable. After all, they hadn’t had their fill for several days. While his group numbered less than 10, it was still quite the work to find enough food to fill their stomach. In particular, Nishino and his friends were high school students that need food to grow. They would feel double the hunger.
Food was scarce at both the school and the home center, so it was really lucky for them to find some untouched supplies in the convenience store.
(Well then, what now.)
Nishino contemplated about the future while grabbing a bag of potato chips that was limited flavor. Where should he head to? What should he do?
(The place where a lot of people would gather. The closest place from here would be the city hall. Should I go there?) If he was to look for his missing companions, common sense dictated that he should look around places where people gathered. Since they were a group possessing skills, they would be welcomed by the other party as well. He didn’t plan on becoming close with anyone, but having a cooperative relationship was not bad either.
— Except he had one concern.
(If the other side has brainwashing skills like President Igarashi, it would become troublesome…) Currently, Nishino was no longer under the influence of Igarashi Touka’s “Enchantment” skill. There was a time limit to her “Enchantment”, and unless the skill was cast on a regular basis, the effects would diminish gradually. To avoid this, she had conducted regular meetings to cast the skill in secret, but it went down the drains after the monster invasion.
Nishino had regained his original thoughts, at the same time realizing that he had been brainwashed by her.
(How foolish of me…)
It seemed like he was too impatient. His separation with his companions must have shaken his heart more than he expected. In this state, he couldn’t really laugh at Rikka. Since he had a similar skill, he should have had some doubts about the fact that other people, a high school girl no less, could rally so many people together. There should have been a limit to being careless.
(A tolerance skill or a skill which could nullify the effect of brainwashing skills…)
Countermeasures against brainwashing. He was very worried about being brainwashed by someone else again. It wasn’t just him; he was worried for his friends as well. Once brainwashed, what awaited was the fate of becoming a disposable pawn. He understood this better than anyone else as he had also thrown away other people’s lives at the home center when the high orc attacked.
(Should we level up independently and set up our own base somewhere?)
Instead of forcibly increasing their number, they could steadily increase their levels. Afterwards, create a base and select people to recruit. Wasn’t this a more efficient way to survive in this world?
(This is plausible…)
Friends and strangers. Lives to save and lives to discard. The weight of people’s lives were not equal to him. He would make use of anything that could be made use of, and he would save those dear to him even at the risk of his own life. In this world, such values were constantly being put to test.
(The world’s becoming more f*cked up every day.)
One couldn’t fight monsters without skills, but the existence of skills makes it necessary for them to be vigilant towards others. When he was cursing in his heart, he felt a gaze directed towards him. Shibata was looking at him with an uneasy face.
“What’s wrong, Nishino-san? You’re making a scary expression.”
“Hm? Oh, sorry about that. I was just thinking about a little something.”
“Thinking… about the future?”
“Oh, there’s that, but there’s also Rikka and Ono…”
He tossed some snacks inside his mouth. The seasoning was so strong that his tongues became spicy. He didn’t like it much, but he wasn’t in a situation where he could be luxurious. He rinsed his mouth with tea.
“Hope everyone’s doing fine.”
“They’re alive. They must be.”
At least Rikka and Ono would be, he told himself. Regarding these two, Nishino had no doubt that they were alive. Rikka was the strongest within their group, and while Ono wasn’t anyone strong, there was nothing to complain about when it came to his surviving skills.
(Well, I’m slightly worried about the rest of them though.)
“Now, it’s about time we move.”
Having said that, he was about to stand up when,
“You received a mail.”
He heard a voice within his head.
“Wha-?”
Mail? Where did that sound come from? Falling into a panic, Nishino looked around.
“Something wrong?”
“No…”
“Certain conditions have been met.”
“It is now possible to acquire the skill ‘Mail’.”
“There is currently one unread mail.”
There they were again. Voices were heard inside him.
“This…”
He quickly checked his status screen. Then, the screen changed to accommodate the mail function. While watching the changes, Nishino checked all the items listed. Shibata was staring at him like he was worried, but it wasn’t the time for him to care about such trivial matters. Eventually, he found something that was indicated as “Unread”, so he clicked on it.
(Sender, Aisaka Rikka?… Rikka… RIKKA!?)
His expression changed upon seeing Rikka’s name.
(Is it really her, or is it someone else?)
He immediately began to read the text.
“Hey, Nisshi. Are you alive? It’s Rikka! (o ^ ∇ ^ o)ノ
I’m sorry to mail you suddenly. Are you surprised? (・Ω